Garden tractor



March 24, 1953 e. H. PROSS 2,632,513

' ,GARDEN TRACTOR Filed Oct. 6, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l //\/z/ e TUF? GEORGEH. PEOSS fl 77-02 NE /5 March 24, 1953 G. H. PROSS 2,632,518

' GARDEN TRACTOR Filed Oct. 6, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 000 00000 Q Q 33 6 muAEA/TUR GEORGE H. PEOSS WMM v /4 T TURN/E. 3 5

March 24, 1953 G. H. PRoss GARDEN TRACTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 6, 1947 Wk kk //\/4/5/\/ TUE GEORGE H. PROSS y M fi fl 7727/ NE W5 Patented Mar. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT,OFFICE GARDEN TRACTOR George H. Pross, Vancouver, Wash.

Application October 6, 1947, Serial No. 778,070

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in garden tractors of the type having a small power plant mounted on two wheels and adapted to be steered and controlled by an operator walking behind the tractor.

Ingeneral, the objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved construction for tractors of the type described which is economical to build and operate, which is rugged and durable, which is powerful and efiicient in operation, and which is easy to control.

Other and more specific objects are to provide a construction having improved traction for pulling difierent implements in tilling and cultivating the soil, to provide a novel and improved mounting arrangement for the engine and other parts on the frame of the tractor and to provide improved control mechanism for controlling the power output of the engine.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention further resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and constituting a practical application thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the tractor;

Figure 2 is a top plan view with the engine and certain parts removed and other parts shown in section; I

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of the frame;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the drawbar hitch taken on the line 66 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a. fragmentary perspective view of the clutch and throttle control levers. The various parts of the present tractor are mounted on and attached to a frame member 10, preferably of channel iron form having a horizontal bottom web II and vertical side flanges 12 extending upwardly therefrom. Mounted on the under side of the frame member ID are bearings l3 for an axle I! to drive a. pair of wheels [5 which are in turn rotatively mounted on the ends of the axle as shown in Figure 3. Attached to the ends of the axle [1 are toothed wheels [8, each of which is adapted to engage a pawl 20 pivotally mounted at 2| on an outside surface of a wheel I5. The pawl 20 carries a spring leaf 22 bearing against an abutment 23 on the wheel to hold the pawl member resiliently in engagement with the toothed wheel 18, the pawl arrangement being such that forward driving torque on the axle I1 is transmitted from the toothed Wheel l8 through the pawl to the wheel [5 to drive the vehicle, but allowing the wheel 15 at any time to rotate faster than the axle I1. Thus, in making a wide turn the tractor may be manually steered to cause the wheel on the outside of the turn to rotate faster than the axle which would then be driving only the wheel on the inside of the turn. To turn more sharply or to make a U-turn by pivoting on one wheel, the engine is disconnected from the axle by a clutch so that the axle ceases to rotate and then the tractor is Wheeled around the turn by hand with the wheel on the inside of the turn remaining relatively stationary. When the engine is not operating, the tractor may be pushed manually with both wheels l5 free wheeling on the axle II. A pair of collars l6 on the axle hold the wheels IS in their proper positions against the toothed wheels I8.

The wheels I5 are preferably made to considerable thickness of cast iron or other heavy material to provide ballast weight for traction purposes. By having the weight concentrated in the wheels good traction is obtained without increasing the size and cost of the various fabricated parts of the vehicle which would otherwise have to support such weight. Thus, the tractor in general may be very simply and economically constructed since the strength requirements need a only be sufficient to support the light weight engine whereas, if the necessary ballast Weight were carried by the frame, then the frame, axle and wheel bearings would all have to be of heavier and more expensive construction to carry the total weight. The wheels 15 are preferably provided with rims for mounting pneumatic tires 25 having the usual inflatable inner tubes with valve stems 26. Suitable recesses 21 are provided in the wheel castings for access to the valve stems to inflate the tires. v I The tractor is driven by an internal combustion engine 30 which is mounted on the frame 10 in a novel manner. The engine is bolted to a base plate 3l having a pair of bearings 32 secured to its under side by which it is mounted for rocking movement on a transverse bolt or shaft 33 supported at its ends in holes in the upstanding side flanges ll. of the frame. It will thus be seen that the center of gravity of the engine is above the point of pivotation and that the engine is substantially balanced on the shaft 33 in a position centrally of the arc of movement of the engine about said point of pivotation, but that it is in unstable equilibrium in the position of balance. The shaft 33 thereby provides a transverse pivotal support for the engine to permit it to rock back and forth. The manner of accomplishing the rocking movement and its purpose will be presently described. Figure 2 shows a plan View of the base plate 3| on the rock shaft '33 with the engine removed.

Referring now to Figure 4, showing the left side of the tractor, the numeral 35 designates the crankshaft, or power output shaft, of the engine 3G. The tractor transmission comprises a pulley 36 on the shaft 35, a belt "drive '31'toa larger pulley 38 on 'a short countershaft 39, sprocket wheels '46 and ti on the respective shafts 39 and H, and sprocket wheels 46 and Al on a second countershaft 48. The several pulleys and sprockets are of different sizes, substantially as shown, to provide a suitable speed reduction between the engine and the axle whena pair of link chains 42 and A9 are placed on the sprockets. These transmission elements are preferably enclosed by a separate 'housing w having a sidewall provided with bearings for one end of the shafts 39 and 48, and having a pair of supports 43a and 43b with bearings for the other end of these shafts. Access to the transmission is obtained by removing the side cover 430 'shownin Figure 3, an'd'bottom cover43d.

The "side wall 45 has an arcuate slot 4'4 concentric with shaft 3 3to permit oscillation of the engine crankshaft 35 inthis slot about the pivotal support 33, itbein understood that the engine 3B is disposed outside the housing 43 and closely adjacent the vertical wall 45 with the end of shaft '35 carrying pulley '36 being disposed within the housing. It is apparent, then, that the engine 30 may be rocked on its supporting shaft '33 to either tighten or slacken the belt drive 3'! to function as a clutch for the driving transmission of the tractor. A pair of belt guides 45a are mounted on the wall 45 to prevent the belt from jumping off the pulley 36 when it is slackened. The engine is preferably mounted to balance on the shaft '33 in a mid position between its normal idling and driving positions so thatwhen pushed or pulled over center in either direction its weight will tend to hold it in the desired position. This condition ofbalance, while desirable, is not necessary to the successful operation of the clutch however, since means will presently be described for positively'holding the engine in either idling or driving position.

"Operation of the clutch is effected by a long handle pivotally connected to the engine as by'a bolt 5! in a bracket 52 on the engine, shown in rear view in 'Figure'B. When the handle '50 is pulled rearwardly of the tractor the engine is rocked back to move the crankshaft 35 closer to the countershaft 89 and slacken the belt drive 31. The pulley 36 then rotates idly in the loose belt loop without rotating the shaft 39 and with-- out transmitting tractive effort to the wheel shaft ll. When it is desired to start the tractor, the handle 50 is thrust forward slowly to place the crankshaftv 35 at a greater .distance from the 4 countershaft 39 and thereby tighten the belt drive 31 gradually until the pulleys 36 begin to grip the belt and rotate the other elements of the transmission to perform the usual function of a clutch in starting the vehicle smoothly. The front of the tractor is to the left in Figure 4, and the rear is to the right. Means will presently be described for holding the handle 56 in its forward position to keep the belt 3'! sufficiently tight to transmit the engine torque.

The speed of the engine is controlled by a throttle lever 55, rotatable on a quadrant plate 56 on the handle 56, as shown in Figures 1 and 7. The lever 55 constitutes an angular end portion on va long rod or shaft 57 secured to an intermediate portion of the handle lever 56 by a bearing element 58. The lower end of the throttle rod 51 is provided with an angular crank end adjacent the pivot 25! which is connected with a link 58 to the engine throttle lever 60, as shown in Figure 3. In view of the fact that the engine throttle lever St is a part of the engine, throttle rod 5'! moves longitudinally as a unit with the handle lever 59, which is also attached to the engine, during longitudinal movement of handle lever 50 to engage or disengage the clutch. It will thereby be seen that the throttle rod 51, which functions by rotary movement, is freely operable in all positions of the handle lever 50. Thus the handle lever 511 performs both its function of control of the clutch, and also supports the throttle control.

The tractor and its soiltilling implements are steered and manipulated by'a pair of handles 65. One of the handles 65 carries a post 66 which has an opening to receive a bolt 61 having an integral handle support and guide plate 68 for the clutch control handle '50. The plate 68 has an opening to receive the handle member 50 in longitudinal sliding movement to operate the clutch by rocking the engine in the manner described. The opening in the plate 68 is large enough to pass an enlarged portion 69 on the under side of handle 58 having two square 'cut ends 16 and H, as shown in Figure 7, to function as stops. To disengage the clutch, the handle "50 is pulled 'rearwardly' until quadrant plate 55 contacts the guide pl'ate'fid, as'shown in Figure 1. After the enlarged portion 69 has passed through the plate 68 it drops down allowing the stop Hi to engage behind the plate 68 which serves as an abutment to hold the lever in its rearmost position.

To engage the clutch, the lever '58 is lifted slightly and pushed forward to'pass the enlarged portion 69 through the plate 68, whereupon it again drops down, allowing the stop "H to engage the front side of plate '68 to hold-the clutch in driving position. The longitudinal position of the plate "68 is adjusted by means of nuts on the bolt 61, which nuts may be tightened in different positions on opposite sides of the post 66. When adjustment is required, as when the belts 3'! become worn or stretched, when .new belts are installed, or when the handles are raised or lowered on the tractor, the bolt 61 may be readily moved back or forward so that the clutch will be completely disengaged in the rearward .position of the handle 56 and completely engaged withthe proper belt tension'for driving the tractor in the forward position of the handle.

The two shafts of the handle 65 are pivotally mounted on bolts 15 in the side flanges H of the frame member, as shown in Figure 3, so that the handles may be raised or lowered to a convenient position. Attached to the rear end of the frame in the manner shown in Figure 5 is a U-shaped bar .of. metal .16, preferably welded or bolted to the side flanges 12. The upstanding ends of this bar each have a series of holes 1'! to receive a bolt 18 passing through an elongated slot E9 in the handle shaft. The handles 65 are thereby adjustably but rigidly mounted on the frame of the tractorto maintain a fixed position in relationto the movable clutch lever handle 50. When the handles 65 are raised or lowered, the bolt 61 on the clutch handle guide and abutment plate 68 may be adjusted in its supporting post 66 in the manner described.

. The lower horizontal portion of the bar 16 is spaced below the horizontal Web ll of the channel frame II) in parallel relation as shown in Figure 5 to'provide a support and guide for the drawbar 80. The drawbar 8B is pivotally mounted at its forward end by a bolt 8| in a hole 82 in the bottom web ll of the frame preferably forward of the axle as shown. in Figure 2. A series of aligned holes 83 are provided in this web and in the bar 16 to receive pins 84 on either side of the drawbar t hold it in a desired angular position for draft purposes. By removing the pins 84, or by placing them in the end holes, the drawbar may be allowed to swing on. its pivot 8|.

The rear end of the drawbar 80 extends out some distance behind the frame of the tractor and is provided with a vertical hole 85 to receive av pin 86 for attaching a drawbar hitch bracket 81. The drawbar 80, or at least the rear end thereof, is preferably square in cross section, and the hitch bracket 81 is provided with a square socket 88 which may be placed on the drawbar in different positions as shown in Figure 6, circular openings 89 being provided in all four sides of the socket to receive the vertical pin 86. The bracket 81 has an elongated transverse hitch bar 90 with a series of holes 9| for connecting in different positions the various implements to be used with the tractor. Thus the bracket element 81 may be mounted on the drawbar 80 with the hitch bar 90 extending horizontally either to the right or t the left, or extending vertically either up or down. When the hitch bar 90 is mounted in a horizontal position, its length in addition to the lateral throw of the drawbar 80 provides for a considerable extreme offset in the attachment of different implements behind the tractor. When the hitch bar 90 is mounted in a vertical position, this bar itself provides for convenient vertical adjustment of the draft point, while the drawbar 80 may be swung to one side or the other to provide lateral horizontal adjustment. This availability of adjustment is of advantage in changing quickly to different implements for different kinds of work.

Figure 1 shows a plow 95 hitched to the tractor drawbar for plowing. It is to be understood, of course, that this is merely illustrative of one of many different implements which may be used with the present tractor and hitched to the drawbar bracket 81 in the various different ways described hereinabove. The present tractor is also particularly useful for harrowing and cultivating, for distributing fertilizer or seeding, and for various other operations in which a tractor may be used.

The present construction and arrangement of parts enables a small tractor with ample power and good traction to be constructed inexpensively and operated economically. By providing a ballast weight in the wheels, the frame and bearings and other structural parts are not required to withstand nearly as great stresses as would be the case if the same weight were carried on the axle by the frame. The present clutch arrangement is also extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate and adjust. The only wearing parts in the clutch comprise the belt drive, which does not constitute a large item .of expense, and which may be readily replaced without requiring the services of a skilled mechanic. Thus the operation is simplified and the problem of maintenance is minimized so that the mechanism may be successfully operated by relatively inexperienced and unskilled workers who do not have sufficient knowledge of machinery and engines to handle and care for conventional motorized equipment.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a garden tractor and the like, a frame, a pivotal engine support on said frame, an engine mounted on said support with the center of gravity of the engine unstably balanced above the pivotal axis of said support for movement by gravity in one direction or the other to over-center positions on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of said support, where the motor is maintained by its weight in either position upon opposite sides of its pivotal axis, a slack belt drive connection with said engine, one of said over-center positions being a tight belt position to engage said drive connection and the other over-center position being a slack belt position to disengage said drive connection, and a handle for shifting said engine between said two positions.

2. In a garden tractor and the like, a tractor frame, a pivotal engine support on said frame, a throttle regulated engine mounted for rocking movement on said support, a slack belt drive connection with said engine, a handle having belt control movement for rocking said engine between tight belt and slack belt positions on said pivotal support to engage and disengage said drive connection, and a throttle lever for the engine mounted on and movable with said handle in said belt control movement without disturbing the engine throttle, said throttle lever having a throttle adjusting movement independent of said belt control movement.

3. In a garden tractor and the like, a tractor frame, a pivotal engine support on said frame, a throttle regulated engine mounted on said support above the pivotal axis thereof for rocking movement, a slack belt drive connection with said engine, said engine having a tight belt overcenter position on one side of said pivotal axis to engage said drive connection and a slack belt over-center position on the other side of said pivotal axis to disengage said drive connection, a handle having longitudinal movement for shifting said engine selectively to said two positions on said pivotal mounting, and a throttle lever for the engine mounted on and movable with said handle in said longitudinal movements without disturbing the engine throttle, said throttle lever having rotative movement independent of said longitudinal movement for adjusting the engine throttle.

4. In a garden tractor and the like having a slack belt drive connection, a throttle regulated engine mounted on a pivotal support for rocking movement to tighten and slacken said belt, a control handle having longitudinal movement for rocking: said engine to. tighten and; slackensaid; belt, and a throttlelever fori-rsaid engine mounted on and movable with. saidcontrol. handle in said longitudinal. movement, said throttle lever having rotative movement about an. axisextending in the direction of said: longitudinal movement to. adjust the-engine throttle.

5. 11141,- garden: tractor and the: like having a throttle regulated 'engineiwith an'engageableland disengageable' drive connection, an: elongated handle: member having longitudinal movement for controlling said drive connection, and a throttlelever for the enginemounted on and movable with said handle member in said longitudinal movement without disturbing the throttle, saidtllrottle lever havingrotative movement independent of said longitudinal movement to ad-- just the throttle oftheengi-ne;

6.- In agarden tractor and the like having a-throttle regulated engine-with an engageable and disengageable drive connection, a steering handle for the-tractor adjustable to difierent positions relativeto the tractor,- a control handle connected with the engine and having a portion ad'justably mountedon said-steering handle to accommodate adjustment of the steering handle; saidcontrol 'handlehaving a control movement to engage and disengage said drive connection, and a throttle Iever' forthe engine mounted on and movablewithsaidcontrolhandleinrsaid control movement without. disturbing the engine throttle, said throttle leverhavingaseparate.

throttle adjustingsmovement independent of said control movement.

GEORGEHH. PROS/S" REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record. in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date 1,124,214 Davis Jan... 5, 1915 1,290,475 A11en .Jan; 7-, 1919 1,316,359 Decker, Sept. 16, 1919 1,412,834 Bleoo, Apr; 18, 1922 1,482,013 Jarviset-al. Jan.. 29', 1924 1,817,873 Bready Aug. 4, 1931 1,966,972 Seeley July17-,,1934 2,074,135 Warner. -Mar. 16, 1937 2,102,560 Kimmich Dec, 14, 1937 2,256,531 Squires, Sept., 23, 1941 2,256,583 Squires Sept, 23;. 1941 2,260,344 Shaw Oct. 28, 1941 2,307,096 Zink et a1. .a Jan. 5,1943 2,394,7441 Boumphrey Feb.:12; 1946 2,401,796 Raitch June: 11, 1946 

